Resilience Rising Through Tenacity and Storytelling: Ana Teresa Espinoza, ‘24

Ana Teresa Espinoza, who is graduating with a major in Journalism and a minor in Music, is the recipient of the winter 2024 SBS Tenacity Award. This award recognizes a graduating senior in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences who has persevered in the face of significant adversity to earn their university degree.

Ana Teresa entered the University of Arizona in the fall of 2019 and passionately dove into her studies. She quickly tapped into her strength in leadership and served as co-president of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, organizing the first-ever Altar for the Day of the Dead — an event that honored journalists who lost their lives, cultivating a deeper awareness of the risks journalists face globally. 

Growing up between Mexico and the U.S. until age 13, Ana Teresa has overcome language barriers, immigration challenges, and numerous life transitions. In the fall of 2022, in addition to the impact of COVID-19, Ana Teresa faced significant personal and family challenges, which affected her physical and mental health. Her GPA suffered and she considered dropping out. Eventually, she made the difficult choice to step away from the U of A and take classes at Pima Community College to realign her goals and momentum.
 
“I felt ashamed that I was struggling to meet expectations until I asked for help,” said Ana Teresa. “I was surprised by how many people around me had gone through similar things.”

Jessica Retis, professor and director of the School of Journalism, saw Ana Teresa's resilience and tenacity return in full force.

“This was no easy decision, but Ana Teresa showed an unparalleled drive to heal and overcome the obstacles in her path. She poured herself into her studies, fought her way back to health, and found her inner strength once again,” said Retis. “Slowly but surely, the light returned to her eyes. She regained her confidence and her passion for journalism. It was inspiring to watch her not only recover but thrive.”

Ana Teresa returned to her U of A journalism major and pressed her bilingualism into service, working on a feature about Los Changuitos Feos, Tucson’s iconic mariachi band, demonstrating her commitment to telling powerful, community-centered stories. She currently interns at Arizona Public Media, where her supervisors have “nothing but praise for her work ethic, dedication, and skill.”  She has also written for various publications, including The Daily Wildcat, and Arizona Luminaria, and interned at Tucson Weekly.

Ana Teresa’s strength under pressure and lived experiences will serve her as she moves on after graduation.
 
“I hope I never stop telling stories that matter,” said Ana Teresa. “I hope to continue connecting with people and reaching audiences that have been historically underrepresented in the media.”

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